In today’s AFL Briefing, your daily wrap of footy news:
- Hawthorn forward Mitch Lewis faces more time on the sidelines because of multiple knee issues.
Check back for updates throughout the day.
Lewis sidelined at least until round eight
Jon Pierik
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has revealed that key forward Mitch Lewis will be sidelined for longer than first thought.
Lewis, 24, had been listed as being out for another one or two weeks as he recovers from the anterior cruciate ligament sprain, but it emerged on Wednesday that Lewis also has an issue with his other knee.
“His knee that he has had his ACL sprain on is coming along nicely and is in a good position, but his other knee is causing him a little bit of trouble, which he is probably around [round] seven or eight now, at best,” Mitchell said.
Lewis was initially hurt during match simulation at La Trobe University in January.
Mitch Lewis faces more time on the sidelines than first thought.Credit:Getty
His absence, and the poor form of Jacob Koschitzke, has meant the Hawks have had to go with a patchwork forward line. Lewis booted 37 goals from 15 games last year, but missed the final three rounds last season due to a jarred knee, the same knee he injured in January.
Mitchell said he hopes small forward Chad Wingard (calf) returns this week.
The Hawks head into their Easter Monday clash against reigning premiers Geelong buoyed by their upset win over North Melbourne in Launceston. The Cats are winless after three rounds, with skipper Patrick Dangerfield conceding their confidence had taken a hit.
However, four-time premiership player Mitchell, a key player in the recent fierce rivalry between the clubs, refused to buy into suggestions the Cats were wounded.
“I don’t know if I would say they are in a bit of a struggle. They have been here before. They have always been a side that has been able to respond. They are a quality outfit, and they are better than the way they are playing,” Mitchell said.
The Hawks won by 12 points when the clubs met in last year’s corresponding fixture. While the Hawks went on to finish 13th, with the Cats claiming a breakthrough flag, Mitchell said his team could still take confidence from that round-five result when Dylan Moore booted four goals.
“When they played in the grand final and were just so dominant for the majority of the year, knowing that we had beaten them was a source of confidence to say: ‘OK, they are the best team in the competition and have 16 games in a row or thereabouts, and we had beaten them through the year’,” Mitchell said.
“[But] that wasn’t in their best form, they had started last year a little bit slowly. We will have a look at something we did last year, but both teams have changed significantly in that time.”
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
